History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 96

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

New Mexico, receiving $65 per month), and Kittie B., now aged seven- teen (she is at the normal school in Mansfield). This pleasant and most estimable family are members of the Methodist Church, and are widely respected. Mrs. Griffith is an invalid, unable to walk, and goes about the house in a wheel chair.

LUCIUS EDGAR GRIGGS, farmer, Monroe township, P. O. Liberty Corners, was born in Ashford, Conn., February 26, 1822, a son of Joseph and Mary (Mason) Griggs, natives of Connecticut and of early English origin; they removed to Monroe in 1831. In his father's family there were six children, of whom he is the fourth; he has always followed farming; located on his present home in 1849. He was married Jannary 11, 1846, to Miss Lydia C., daughter of Philip and Betsey (Richards) Hart, of New England stock ; later came to Bradford county in 1825; they have five children, viz .: Willis E., born January 8, 1847, is town treasurer, a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Monroe, and resides on a farm across the road from the old home- stead, married to Mrs. Cyrus Lewis (Miss Mary E. Strevey), by whom he has three children ; Dorsey L., born October 4, 1848, is engaged in the Eureka Works, Utica, N. Y., married to Lydia F. Strevey, by whom he has seven children ; Ira G., born August 19, 1850, electrical engi- neer, Brockport, Pa., married to Charlotte Brown, by whom he has two children ; Eli Z., born September 7, 1852, mine superintendent, Brockport, married to Miss Annie S. Kinney, of Athens, who died July 23, 1891, leaving four children ; and Addison E., born December 29, 1854, blacksmith, Landrus, Pa. Lucius Edgar Griggs and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; he is a thorough Demo- crat, and has been collector of taxes, and school director nine years ; was on the first school board ever organized in Monroe, and on March 4, 1843, he was commissioned, by Governor Porter, captain of the " Monroe Rifle Company ; " he was rejected from active service in the Civil War on account of deafness.

T. GRIMES, farmer, of Overton township, P.O. Overton, is a native of County Sligo, Ireland, born in 1817, and is a son of Terrence and Bridget (Gallagher) Grimes, natives of the same place, where the father died in 1842, and the mother in 1844. He is the second in a family of five children. The son remained in the old family home in his native place, and at the age of twenty-three he bade farewell to home and native land, and sailed, as an emigrant, to the land of the free, making his permanent stop in Overton, first seeking and finding employment among the simple, honest, industrious farmers of that place. In time, by his untiring industry, he accomplished the ambi- tion of his young life, and become a land owner, a term that means far more to a foreign-born citizen than to a native American. His farm contains fifty acres, well improved and cultivated, on which are com fortable houses and general improvements. He was married in Ireland, in 1838, to Mary Coggins, daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Murphy) Goggins. all natives of the same place, and old-time neighbors of the Grimes family. Of this union were born children, of whom four died, and the living are: Mary, wife of James McDonald; Julia, wife of Charles Bowman ; Jennie, wife of James Nestor; Nellie, wife of Burt

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Hoose; Terrence, Maggie, Patrick and Michael. The family worship at the Catholic Church, and every member is noted for industry and integrity, a natural result it would seem when it is remembered that the father with his own hands cleared the entire farm, where they now live, when it was a dense wilderness. In political matters Mr. Grimes affiliates with the Democratic party.

HENRY G. GRINNELL, farmer, P. O. Columbia Cross Roads, was born in Wells township, this county, December 26, 1844, and is a son of Lorenzo and Rhoda (Griffin) Grinnell. His father was a native of Chenango county, N. Y., and his mother of Dutchess county, N. Y. His maternal grandfather was Henry Griffin, of Dutchess county, N. Y., who died there; his widow afterward married James A. Wilson, and with him settled in Wells township, this county, in 1837. Lorenzo Grinnell settled there at about the same time, clearing and improving a farm and was there married; he died in 1867; his widow still sur- vives him at the age of eighty-one years. Their children were as follows : Harrison, Susa (deceased), Henry G., and Mary (deceased). Henry G. Grinnell, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Wells township, educated in the common schools, and is a carpenter and painter by trade ; he has been more or less engaged in lumbering, but most of his life has been spent in farming. He resided in Wells town- ship until 1866, and has since lived in Columbia, where he has engaged in farming and dairying. He was in the Civil War, enlisting in September, 1861, in Battery A, First New York Artillery, and after serving six weeks was honorably discharged on account of disability. He re-enlisted, in February, 1864, in Battery F, same regiment, and was honorably discharged June 27, 1865. He married, in December, 1865, Alice, daughter of Cornelius and Mary J. (Seeley) Daggett, of Jackson, Tioga Co., Pa., and has five children, as follows : Stowell E., Henry G., Jr., Mary A., Lorenzo and Jennie. Mr. Grinnell is a Republican in politics.

CHARLES N. GROHS, of Grohs & Manley, grocers, Troy, was born in Northampton county, Pa., March 13, 1832, a son of Isaac and Christianna Wilhelm, and is of German descent. He was reared in his native State, received a common-school education, and learned the miller's trade, beginning his apprenticeship when fourteen years of age, in Luzerne county, and finishing in Troy in 1848. He settled in Troy township, and for fifteen years worked as a journeyman miller to Viele's mills, and two years as proprietor. In the spring of 1866, he located in Troy borough, and embarked in the grocery business, in which he has since successfully continued, and has been a member of the firm of Grohs & Manley since January, 1889. In 1856 he mar- ried Deborah, daughter of Jacob Viele, of Schenectady, N. Y., and has two children : Minnie (Mrs. Fred H. Hoffman) and Charles V. Mr. Grohs is a popular grocer of Troy; is a member of the Episcopal Church and F. & A. M .; has served as councilman of Troy borough one term ; in politics, he is a Democrat.

GEORGE H. HAFLETT, farmer, in Granville township, P. O. Windfall. was born in Granville township, this county, July 21. 1841, and is a son of William and Lucy (Hewitt) Haflett, natives of England,

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

who settled in Granville township about 1838, and cleared and im- proved what is now known as the John L. Ferguson farm; the father still resides in the township. They reared a family of children as follows: Amelia (Mrs. John Reed), John, Mary (Mrs. John C. May), George H. and William H. George H. was reared and educa- ted in Granville, where he has always resided, and is one of the repre- sentative farmers of the township. He married, December 14, 1862, Helen P., daughter of Philander and Betsey (Grantier) Case, of Canton township, and has one daughter, Hattie B. Mr. Haflett was in the Civil War, having enlisted February 19, 1864, in Company C, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry. He participated in the battles of Selma (Ala.), and Macon (Ga.), besides other minor engagements; was wounded while on picket duty on the Tennessee river, and was honorably dis- charged at Macon, Ga., August 23, 1865. He is a member of the G. A. R. and P. of H .; politically he is a Republican, and has been assessor of Granville township five years.

JOHN W. HAFLETT, farmer, of Granville township, P. O. Wind- fall, was born in Providence, R. I., October 31, 1835, and is a son of William and Lucy (Hewitt) Haflett, who settled in Granville township, this county, about 1838. John W. Haflett was reared in Granville from three years of age, receiving a common-school education, has always followed farming, and has resided on the farm he now occupies since 1856, which he cleared and improved. He was in the War of the Rebellion, having enlisted August 1, 1864, in Company I, Fifteenth New York Engineers, and was honorably discharged from the service July 2, 1865, at Washington, D. C. He married, July 4, 1855, Delilah, daughter of Philander and Betsey (Grantier) Case, of Canton, by whom he has five children, as follows: Lucy (Mrs. Washington McCroy), David, George, Gladdus and Merton. Mr. Haflett is a mem- ber of the G. A. R. and I. O. O.F. ; in politics he is a Republican.

CALEB S. HAGER, farmer, Columbia township, P. O. Sylvania, was born in Hector, Tompkins Co , N. Y., November 13, 1818, and is a son of Isaac and Sally (Peck) Hager, and of German descent. He was reared in Tioga county, Pa., from five years of age, educated in the common schools, and after attaining his majority engaged in farming. In 1869 he settled in Columbia township, this county, locating on the farm he now occupies, on which he has made many improvements. He is a man of extraordinary musical talent, has been a teacher of both vocal and instrumental music for fifty-seven years, and plays nearly every instrument. He was twice married : first time to Maryett, daughter of Luther Tinkham, of Tioga county, Pa., and by her he had four children : Frank, Nettie (Mrs. Samuel Bradford), Hattie (Mrs. James Rothrock) and Martin. His second wife was Hannah, daughter of John Fisher, of Union county, Pa., and by her he has three children : Coley, Gertrude (Mrs. Bert Strait) and Percy. Mr. Hager is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church. In politics he is a Republican.

FRANCIS H. HAGEMAN, farmer, P. O. Rummerfield Creek, was born February 1, 1823, in Northampton county, Pa., the young- est of seven children of Joshua and Susanah (Dills) Hageman, natives

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of New Jersey. He was united in marriage January 1, 1852, to Julia A., daughter of Philip Wideman, a native of this State, and they had six children, four of whom are living, as follows : Kate, born August 26, 1855, wife of George Kerrick; Susan A., born March 10, 1858, wife of R. B. Kerrick ; Francis H., born December 25, 1866, married to Rose Bullock ; and Justin, born November 8, 1868. Mr. Hageman was raised on his father's farm, and has followed farming and milling all his life. He came to this county about 1870, purchased the old Laporte homestead, and has over 300 acres of the north part of the farm, one of the finest and best farms in the county. This settlement was made in 1794; the first settlement of the French refugees and the grave and monument of their leader, John Laporte, is near his house. Mr. Hageman has always been a very successful farmer, wheat and potatoes being his principal crops ; also owns the mill near the mouth of Towanda creek, where he does a large business which is managed by his two sons, Francis H. and Justin. He is a Republican in poli- tics, originally a Henry Clay Whig, for whom he cast his first vote for President.

JOHN F. HAIGH, farmer and woolen manufacturer, of Pike township, P. O. LeRaysville, was born March 21, 1852, on the farm where he now lives, a son of Joseph and Harriet S. (Browning) Haigh, the former a native of Yorkshire, England, the latter of Bradford county, and of New England descent. The father located at Pike in 1842, and was employed by William Black in the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1847, in company with Luther Stewart, he pur- chased the factory of Mr. Black, and in 1856 he purchased the interest of Mr. Stewart ; then continued in this business until his death, which occurred June 22, 1890. at the age of seventy-five years ; his wife died May 11, 1890. John F. Haigh was educated in the district, LeRays- ville and Rome graded schools, and began teaching at twenty, being thus occupied ten terms; aside from teaching winters he always remained at home and assisted his father on the farm and in the fac- tory. In his father's family there were six children, viz .: Mary, Lucy W., John F., Emma M., Sarah Jane and William S. (latter deceased). Mr. Haigh is a member of the Republican party, and has held office in his township for many years.

HARRY L. HAIGHT, farmer, P. O. Durell, was born June 20, 1825, and is a son of George R. and Betsy O. (Curtis) Haight, natives of Chenango county, N. Y., and agriculturists. He came to Burling- ton, this county, when a small boy, was reared on his father's farm and educated in the schools of that town. Mr. Haight came to Asylum township about 1871 and settled on his present farm, which is one of the best in the town, his residence being on one of the most beautiful locations in the State. He was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, and was honorably discharged after Lee's surrender ; he is a Republican, and has taken an active interest in the. affairs of the county ; was ten years a justice of the peace. and declined re-election for another five years. Mr. Haight was united in marriage, Decem- ber 25, 1848, with Caroline, daughter of Evan O. Shiner, and born December 6, 1825 ; they have had seven children, six of whom are liv-

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

ing, as follows : George L., born January 29, 1849, a merchant, married to Adda Ackley ; Vie C., born November 6, 1853, wife of Samuel Stethers ; William B., born May 4, 1856, married to Bettie Bangston ; Carrie E., born April 19, 1862 (Mrs. Charles Frutchey); Perry S., born July 15, 1866, married to Ella Delong; Alta D., born June 7, 1869, married to Katie Campbell, and living with his father. Mr. and Mrs. Haight are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Haight's grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier and saw great hardships and long service.

CHARLES A. HAINES, physician, LeRoy, was born in Lehigh- ton, Carbon Co., Pa., a son of Charles and Julia (Buchman) Haines, whose family consisted of four children, of whom Charles A. is the second. He came to LeRoy township, this county, in the spring of 1884, and purchased the old Bailey homestead, a property which was in a very dilapidated condition ; but by labor, ingenuity and enterprise he has converted the house into a beautiful cottage of modern style, while the ground has been graded and terraced so as to make the resi- dence and ground an object of both admiration and beauty to the passer-by. He was reared in Schuylkill county, Pa; educated at Union Seminary, Union county, Pa., Cedar Hill Seminary, Mount Joy, Pa., and the State Normal School of Bloomsburg, Pa., and then finished in the scientific course. Afterward he went into the office of Dr. H. D. Rentschler, one of the most eminent physicians in Schuyl- kill county, Pa., afterward attending Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. Finishing his education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., where he was graduated, he began the practice of his profession in Columbia county, Pa .. from which place he moved to LeRoy. When twenty-four years old he was married, at Mahanoy City, Pa., to Bella, daughter of Jolin and Catherine Leiten- berger, natives of Germany, and to them was born, May 5, 1886, one child, Carlyle. Dr. Charles A. Haines thoroughly understands his profession, and has a large practice. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and of seven other societies; also a prominent member of the County Medical Society. Politically, he is a Republican. When locating in Bradford county the Doctor had a hard and strong opposition to contend with, but now he has one of the largest country practices in Bradford county. He has a brother, Dr. John F. Haines, who is a practicing physician at Monroeton, Pa.

JOHN F. HAINES, Monroeton, was born in Allenton, January 26th, 1864, a son of Charles H. and Julia A. Haines, and is of French and German descent. He was reared in his native State, where he received a normal-school education. In 1875 he accepted a position with the Phil- adelphia & Reading Railroad Company as extra telegraph operator, and in 1877 he accepted a position at Phillipsburg, N. J., as telegraph operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company; a few months later he was promoted, and sent to New York by the same Company to work in their main office. In 1878 he left New York to accept a. position for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company, so he could take up the study of medicine at the same time, devoting all his spare time in the study of medicine. In 1880 he received a position

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HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY.

as telegraph operator for the Tide Water Pipe Line Company, at Tamanend, Pa., and while employed by that Company he received the first message sent over the Tide Water Pipe Line Company's tele- graph line, the message being sent by Mr. Eddy, of Mainville, Pa. In October, 1881, he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, corner of Calvert and Saratoga streets, Baltimore, Md., graduating in medicine in the spring of 1885. After standing a competitive examin- ation, he was appointed resident physician and surgeon, for one year, in the Womans Hospital, and one year in the Surgical Department of the Bayview Hospital, and Asylum of Baltimore. In 1887 be located in LeRoy, this county, where he remained two years. In 1889 he removed to Monroeton, where he has already succeeded in building up a large practice, and where he has gained note as a skilled surgeon. Dr. Haines is a member of the Bradford County Medical Society, I. (). O. F. and P. O. S. of A., and politically he is a Republican.

MAJOR ELIAS W. HALE, a prominent citizen of Bradford county, Pa., was born December 13, 1816, in Towanda township, in the residence he now occupies, and is a son of Reuben and Wealthy (Tracy) Hale. His father, a son of Gideon Hale, was a native of Glastonbury, Conn., and settled in Towanda township in 1799, when he purchased a tract of land on Towanda creek, of George Welles, and later bought lands adjoining, becoming an extensive property owner. On February 27, 1803, he married Wealthy, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth (Rogers) Tracy, and lived in a log house on his property until 1810, when he erected the residence now occupied by his son, Maj. Hale, in which he resided until his death, which occurred January 30, 1825. He was born February 6, 1777; in 1810 he was appointed the first postmaster at Towanda, and served on the first grand jury called in Bradford county, and was for several years a justice of the peace. Among his business enterprises, outside of his farming interests, he operated a distillery, grist and saw mill, and he was a man possessed of rare business judgment ; in his day he was among the most prominent citizens of Bradford county. His wife, who was one of the first school teachers of Towanda, died April 12, 1854, aged seventy-five years; their children were: Eliza (Mrs. Gen. William Patton), Nancy (Mrs. Benjamin S. Spees), James T. (an eminent jurist and congressman of note), Reuben W. and Elias W. The subject of this sketch was reared on the old homestead to which he succeeded by inheritance and purchase of the other heirs' interests. He was educated in the common schools, and academy at Cazenovia, N. Y., followed engineering in the North Branch Canal in early manhood, has always been engaged in farming and for many years was prominently identified with the lumbering and milling interests of Bradford county. . He is now the owner of a large number of stores and dwellings in Towanda ; proprietor of a large planing mill and lumber yard, and erected and is tlie present owner of " Hale's Opera House " and block in Towanda, the opera house being the leading place of amusement in the borough. He has been a director of the First National Bank of Towanda since its organization ; was appointed major in the militia by Gov. Porter, in 1850, and is popularly known as Maj. Hale. He was married, September 7, 1854, to Mary J., daughter

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of Benjamin and Mary A. (Hale) Taylor, of Glastonbury, Conn., by whom he has five children living, as follows : Hon. James T. (a promi- nent attorney of Duluth, Minn.), Benjamin T. (also a member of the bar), Elias W., Jr., Jennie M. and Anne (Mrs. John W. Codding). In 1850 Maj. Hale was appointed deputy United States marshal and took the census of Bradford county ; in 1864 he was one of the electors on the ticket that elected Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency for a second term ; politically he has been a stanch Republican since the organiza- tion of the party, and in wealth and public spirit he is one of the pres- ent leading citizens of Bradford county.

DARIUS CUSTER HALL, KNOWN IN BUSINESS LIFE AS D. C. HALL, was in trade in Towanda between 1844 and 1865. His mother was Temperance Custer, a woman of great force of character who reached extreme longevity, she was the daughter of a Revolu- tionary soldier, and related to the branch of which the lamented Gen. Custer came. His father John Hall, a cooper by trade, 'came to Pennsylvania from Delaware. He drew a pension and Land warrant for his services in the War of 1812. It is not positively known whether this branch of Hall family was of English stock or from North Ireland. The father of John Hall, when in advanced years settled in Indiana, married a young wife and reared there a large family.

D. C. Hall born in 1819 died in 1865. He had well learned the tinman's trade, and his first partner in business was Mr. Hentz. For a short time after purchasing Hardware stock of Daniel Lord, the firm was Hall & Walker in the Barstow building, next to new Presbyter- ian Chapel on Court street. Afterward, Judge Russell came into the firm as Hall & Russell. This firm built the large building which burned in 1867, on site now occupied by Dye & Co. As Lameraux Hall & Russell, they had a foundry and stove business on the site of Eureka works. In 1860 D. C. Hall, with Col. J. F. Means and John McMahon run the line of mail coaches from Tunkhannock to Waverly with a passenger packet line from Athens. Having purchased interest of Judge Russell in 1857, he sold out hardware business to John A. Codding and Judge Russell, who for years continued that business. As School Director, he was instrumental in building the School House, corner of Pine and Second, the first School building owned by the Direc- tors under Act of 1854. His name appears among those who caused the purchase of the first fire apparatus in town. He was a man of energy, quick intuitions, active, genial and generous. Owing to sick- ness and a premature locating of a Hardware store at Dushore, Pa., he had reverses, but he was proud that he paid his debts. IIe was a believer in the truth of the Christian religion, a prominent member of the Masonic and other fraternities, and in politics, a Jeffersonian Democrat. At an early age he married Elizabeth daughter of Elder Isaac Post, who then kept hotel on site of present Reporter Journal building. At his death, he left three children, Charles M., Stella (Mrs. J. L. Thurber) and Anna (Mrs. G. W. Bruce).

Charles M. IIall the elder at his father's death had struck out in his young days for the better openings of the West, and was finely located on the South shore of the copper region of Lake Superior near

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Ontonagon. Reaching home after his father's death, he submitted to the duty of caring for his widowed mother and young sisters. After settlement of sisters he married in 1882 Miss Van Buskirk of Tomp- kins county, N. Y., whose family were originally of Holland and Pennsylvania German ancestry, from Monroe county, Pa. His children are. Delos Custer, Chas. Sumner, and Cornelius. He was after disposing of wholesale Liquor business, which he did not find quite congenial, engaged with Codding & Russell in the hardware store which they had bought of D. C. Hall, and always received the highest wages even in his young days. After 1873 and the completion of the L. V. R. R. judging that the business had seen its best days in Towanda, he decided to practice law. He was admitted in 1877. In 1878 he was appointed a Magistrate with civil and criminal jurisdiction by Gov. Hartranft. He was twice afterward elected against the Caucus Regular Republican candidate by Independent voters. At this time he is Register of Wills, Recorder, and Clerk of Orphans Court. He was chosen on the Fusion ticket supported by both Democrats and Independent Republicans. Mr. Hall was a Republican until 1888, when he believed that the old war issues were settled, and that the Republican leaders were taking a new and unjustifiable extreme high-tariff posi- tion, not in line, with previous Republican policy and highly opposed to the interests of the country. He saw that the Mills bill was a good tariff with as much protection as the farmers, and wage-earners of the country, could afford to concede the wealthy nabobs who had been plucking the people. He saw that such Republicans as David Wilmot, Henry Wilson, Gen. Grant, President Arthur, Chas. Sumner, with E. O. Goodrich and the Bradford Reporter had for years favored a still lower tariff than the Mills bill. Believing that the infant indus- tries required less protection now than fifty years ago, he followed his convictions, in a county of 4,200 Republican majority, and united him- self to the Democratic party as the best promoter of reduced taxation and tariff reform, unterrified by the misapplied and unjust appellation of "Free Trade Hall." He is a tariff reformer, but not as yet, a Free trader.

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History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 96

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1340

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1340